The Queer Principles of Kit Webb by Cat Sebastian

Critically acclaimed author Cat Sebastian makes her trade paperback debut in a stunning historical romance about a reluctantly reformed highwayman and the aristocrat who threatens to steal his heart.

Kit Webb has left his stand-and-deliver days behind him. But dreary days at his coffee shop have begun to make him pine for the heady rush of thievery. When a handsome yet arrogant aristocrat storms into his shop, Kit quickly realizes he may be unable to deny whatever this highborn man desires.

In order to save himself and a beloved friend, Percy, Lord Holland must go against every gentlemanly behavior he holds dear to gain what he needs most: a book that once belonged to his mother, a book his father never lets out of his sight and could be Percy’s savior. More comfortable in silk-filled ballrooms than coffee shops frequented by criminals, his attempts to hire the roughly hewn highwayman, formerly known as Gladhand Jack, proves equal parts frustrating and electrifying.

Kit refuses to participate in the robbery but agrees to teach Percy how to do the deed. Percy knows he has little choice but to submit and as the lessons in thievery begin, he discovers thievery isn’t the only crime he’s desperate to commit with Kit.

But when their careful plan goes dangerously wrong and shocking revelations threaten to tear them apart, can these stolen hearts overcome the impediments in their path?

Content notes: non-graphic violence, reference to past infant death, reference to character being imprisoned in the past.

 

 

Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Apple Books  ~  B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  Kobo
Audiobook (US)  ~  Paperback (US)
Avon (HarperCollins)

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆☆
The Queer Principles of Kit Webb is a standalone. However, I would do just about anything to get a book from the blackmailer's perspective. Hint. Hint. Especially if it features a renegade dowager duchess, Marian. I mean, we need to know what actually happens to the dukedom, right?

Kit Webb is a retired highwayman, currently running a coffee house while nursing his permanently injured leg, surrounding himself with a wide array of intriguing characters, all of them mourning the passing of Rob. Kit and his band of merry men and women, their antics have been turned into heroic songs sang about stealing from the rich to benefit the poor.

Popinjay Lord Holland, aka Percy, he and his stepmother are dealing with a blackmailer who wishes to expose a life-changing secret about their father and husband, the duke. Refusing to pay the blackmailer, unhappy to be the next duke, Percy is more than happy to stick it to his evil father by hiring the infamous highwayman.

Kit and Percy are put into close proximity, sparks flying along with training fists. Amid the scent of coffee, scattered books, and the eyes of curious patrons, Kit and Percy get closer and closer together by planning a heist.

To be quite honest, the premise itself, the characters as well, all of it should have been a major hit for me. I loved it all with the exception of the pacing and redundant inner monologue that slowed the progress to a molasses crawl.

Told vs Shown.

What was fun and light, intriguing and exciting, suddenly was bogged down in a wordy regurgitation as Kit and Percy told the reader the same thing over and over again, as if trying to convince themselves. The novel slowed to a crawl, my interest waning, to the point where I fought the desire to skim.

Conflicted, I loved it all but the pacing, where if a good portion of the novel had been cut from the final product, it would have transformed this into an exciting page-turner. All of the characters, both the mains and the side characters, were a major hook, where I was invested in their lives, wishing to know more. Fingers crossed we may get more from this cast in the future.

 

 

CAT SEBASTIAN lives in a swampy part of the South with her husband, three kids, and two dogs. Before her kids were born, she practiced law and taught high school and college writing. When she isn't reading or writing, she's doing crossword puzzles, bird watching, and wondering where she put her coffee cup.

Connect with Cat

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: League of Extraordinary Historical Romance Authors

 

 

 

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of The Queer Principles of Kit Webb (The Queer Principles of Kit Webb #1) by Cat Sebastian to read and review.